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Mifs RICHLAND.

Well, no more of this! As to my guardian, and his fon, they fhall find me prepared to receive them; I'm refolved to accept their propofal with feeming pleasure, to mortify them by compliance, and fo throw the refufal at last upon them.

GARNET.

Delicious! and that will fecure your whole fortune to yourself. Well, who could have thought fo innocent a face could cover fo much cuteness!

Mifs RICHLAND.

Why, girl, I only oppofe my prudence to their cunning, and practise a leffon they have taught me against themselves.

GARNET.

Then you're likely not long to want employment, for here they come, and in clofe conference.

Enter CROAKER, LEONTINE.

LEONTINE.

Excuse me, Sir, if I feem to hesitate upon the point of putting to the lady fo important a queftion.

CROAKER.

Lord! good Sir, moderate your fears; you're fo plaguy fhy, that one would think you had changed fexes. I tell you we must have the half or the whole. Come, let me fee with what spirit you begin? Well, why don't you? Eh! What? Well

then

then-I muft, it seems-Mifs Richland, my dear, I believe you guess at our bufinefs; an affair which my fon here comes to open, that nearly concerns your happiness.

Mifs RICHLAND.

Sir, I should be ungrateful not to be pleased with any thing that comes recommended by you.

CROAKER.

How, boy, could you defire a finer opening? Why don't you begin, I say?

LEONTINE.

(To Leont.)

'Tis true, madam, my father, madam, has fome intentions-hem-of explaining an affair-whichhimself-can best explain, madam.

CROAKER.

Yes, my dear; it comes intirely from my fon;

it's all a request of his own, madam.

permit him to make the best of it.

LEONTINE.

And I will

The whole affair is only this, madam; my father has a propofal to make, which he infifts none but himfelf fhall deliver.

CROAKER.

My mind mifgives me, the fellow will never be brought on. (Afide.) In fhort, madam, you fee before you one that loves you; one whose whole happiness is all in you.

Mifs RICHLAND.

I never had any doubts of your regard, Sir; and I hope you can have none of my duty.

CROAKER.

That's not the thing, my little fweeting; my love! No, no, another guess lover than I; there he ftands, madam, his very looks declare the force of his paffion-Call up a look you dog (Afide)-But then, had you feen him, as I have, weeping, speaking foliloquies and blank verfe, fometimes melancholy, and fometimes abfent

Mifs RICHLAND.

I fear, Sir, he's abfent now; or fuch a declaration would have come moft properly from himfelf.

CROAKER.

Himfelf! madam, he would die before he could make fuch a confeffion; and if he had not a channel for his paffion through me, it would ere now have drowned his understanding.

Mifs RICHLAND.

I muft grant, Sir, there are attractions in modeft diffidence above the force of words.

A filent ad

drefs is the genuine eloquence of fincerity.

CROAKER.

Madam, he has forgot to speak any other language; filence is become his mother tongue.

Mifs RICHLAND.

And it must be confeffed, Sir, it fpeaks very powerfully in his favour. And yet I fhall be thought

thought too forward in making fuch a confeffion; fhan't I, Mr. Leontine ?

LEONTINE.

But, if

Confufion! my referve will undo me. modefty attracts her, impudence may difguft her. I'll try. (Afide.) Don't imagine from my filence, madam, that I want a due sense of the honour and happiness intended me. My father, madam, tells me, your humble fervant is not totally indifferent to you. He admires you; I adore you; and when we come together, upon my foul I believe we shall be the happiest couple in all St. James's.

Mifs RICHLAND.

If I could flatter myself, you thought as you fpeak, Sir

LEONTINE.

Doubt my fincerity, madam? By your dear felf I swear. Ask the brave, if they defire glory? ask cowards, if they covet fafety—————

CROAKER.

Well, well, no more questions about it.

.

LEONTINE.

Afk the fick, if they long for health? afk mifers, if they love money? afk

CROAKER.

Afk a fool, if he can talk nonfenfe! What's come over the boy? What fignifies afking, when there's not a foul to give you an answer? If you

would

would ask to the purpose, ask this lady's consent to make you happy.

-

Mifs RICHLAND.

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Why indeed, Sir, his uncommon ardour almoft compels me forces me to comply. And yet I'm afraid he'll defpife a conqueft gained with too much eafe: won't you, Mr. Leontine ?

LEONTINE.

Confufion! Afide.) Oh, by no means, madam, by no means. And yet, madam, you talked of force. There is nothing I would avoid fo much as compulfion in a thing of this kind. No, madam, I will ftill be generous, and leave you at liberty to refuse.

CROAKER.

But I tell you, Sir, the lady is not at liberty. It's a match. You see she fays nothing. Silence gives confent.

LEONTINE.

But, Sir, fhe talked of force. Confider, Sir, the cruelty of constraining her inclinations.

CROAKER.

But I fay there's no cruelty. Don't you know, blockhead, that girls have always a roundabout way of faying yes before company? So get you both gone together into the next room, and hang him that interrupts the tender explanation. Get you gone, I fay; I'll not hear a word.

VOL. II.

D

LE

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